Knitting machine



March 30, 1948. o. FREGEOLLE 2,433,697

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 18, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I i l )27 fA/VEAITOR/ I i amma;

March 30, 1948. o. FREGEOLLE KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original File d Oct. 18, 1944 I March 30, 1948. 0, FREGEQLLE 2,438,697

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 18, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet, 4

FIG/7 I Q J/ March 30, 1948 FREGEOLLE KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 18, 1944 7'Sheets-Sheet 5 M, W \w I March 30, 1948. F E E L E 2,438,697

KNI'IJTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 18, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 30, 1948. o. FREGEOLLE 2,438,697

KNITTING MACHINE I Original Filed Oct, 18, v1944 v Sheets-Sheet v Patented Mar. 30,1948

KNITTING MACHINE Oscar Fregeolle, Central Falls, R. 1., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. 1., a corporation of Massachusetts Original application October 18, 1944, Serial No.

559,136. Divided and this application September 12, .1945, Serial No. 615,808

3 Claims. (01. 66-135) This is a division of application for United States Letters Patent No. 559,136, filed October 18, 1944. In the application referred to there is disclosed, among other things, a novel type of wrapping head peculiarly suited for use in circular knitting machines having coaxial superposed needle cylinders. There is also disclosed a novel form of toe pocket spreader and fabric take-up for applying tension to the fabric during knitting. These are shown in connection with a two cylinder machine of the above type but may be used as well in single cylinder machines. This application is concerned with these things.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 ha general view of the mechanism for producing wrap patterns and also of the means for applying tension to the fabric through the heel and toe pocket;

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating particularly the heel and toe pocket spreader and the device for applying tension to' the fabric immediately following these parts independently of the regular fabric tension;

Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section illustrating this tensioning device and also showing the position of the wrap spindle with respect to it and to the cylinders;

Fig. 4 is a general illustrative view of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a view of a part of the means for op erating the wrap mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a view primarily illustrating the means through which these parts and the heel and toe pocket spreader are operated;

Fig. 7 is a view of the two cylindrical driving shafts for the two wrap heads shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 8 and 9 are plan view of these two wrap heads;

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the Wrap spindle and the means .by which the wrap mechanism is supported and moved into and out of operating position;

Fig. 11 is a similar elevation partly in section;

Fig. 12 is a plan view illustrating the lower cylinder, the position of the wrap horn and of one type of wrap spindle;

Fig. 13 is an elevation partly in section also illustrating the wrap horn;

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are views illustrating the manner in which wrap and color-within-color wrap may be produced;

Figs. 17' and 18 are views illustrating another type of wrap head having frangible eyelets useful for producing the wrap patterns in the stocking of Fig. 19;

Fig. 19 illustrates part of a stocking in the leg of which there are alternaing panels ofrib and plain fabric with reverse plated patterns in the plain fabric panels, these patterns being outlined by wrap patterns produced by reverse spiral wrapping; and

Figs. 20, 21 and 22 are views offragments of the wrap mechanism support illustrating particularly the means by which its movement may be adjusted.

As is well known, when stockings are knit as string work and particularly when rib knitting is being done, tension is maintained on the fabric to assist in the casting off of loops from the needles. Generally speaking, any suitable type of fabric take-up may .be employed. However, the knitting of the heel and toe pockets introduces unsymmetrical portions of fabric which completely eliminate the possibility ofuniform tension being applied to the fabric immediately succeeding them by the usual fabric take-up means. Consequently, a supplementary takeup device should be used to apply tension to the heel and toe pockets so that the immediately succeeding fabric may be properly .tensioned at all points. v

A form of supplementary take-up of this character is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It consists of a disc-like pocket spreader 8| mounted on the end of a rod 82 extending from the uppermost part of the machine through tubular shafts 83 and 84 within housing 85. Normally rod 8| is maintained in its uppermost position, that shown in Fig. 1. by a spring 88. In'this position, spread+ er 8| is inoperative.

Associated therewith is the supplementary fabric take-upproper 81 (Figs. 2 and 3). This consists of a ring 88 longitudinally movable within the cylinder I, provided with inwardly projecting needle-like points 89 adapted to engage with the fabric of the heel or toe pocket. Ring 88 is mounted on a rod 90 by which it is moved'up and down by suitable mechanism. In spreader 8| are V-shaped recesses 9| adapted to register with points 89 as shown in Fig. 2.

Registry is maintained through a pin 92 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) mounted in a ring 93 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 10 and 11) vertically slidable on housing and projecting through a slot in this housing so as to engage a recess 94 in rod 82. This recess is of sufilcient length to permit rod 82 to move up and down the required distance but will prevent it from turning independently of housing 85. Spreader 8| and supplementar take-up: 81 rothe outside of toe pocket 96 to substantially the position shown in Fig. 3, the points 89 penetrating the fabric of the toe pocket. TI'hen spreader BI is permitted to move upward again "to its inoperative position and take-up 81 is released to descend of its own Weight,;supplernented by a spring, if desired, as the subsequent knitting pro-1 gresses and maintaining tension upon the fabric above the toe pocket.

When the supplementary take-up has reached a low position it is released, the tension then being-maintained by the regular fabric take-up. After the toe pocket is completed'the'sameprocedu-re is repeated to maintain tension on this side offthe fabric subsequently knitted.

During both of theseoperations therest oi the fabric such as. that of the leg passes through'th'e arcuate .ll forming an extension ofta'ke up f81 the side opposite-points '89. This fabric is 'tensloned throughout by the regular fabric takeup. Through the cooperation of the regular and auxiliary take-ups an adequately uniform tension is maintained oi-rthe fabric at all points to insure perfeet knitting.

The po'c'ket spreader- 8! also serves to keep 7 heel pocket out of the way or the wrap heads and wrap yarns' when they are i-n-operatum,

The auxiliary take- 11D just described is a modification o'fthat shown i-nU. S. Paftent#2,068,605 tt'rwln"i'eli reierehc'e may be had-for a more detailed descriptidn of its general characteristics and mode of operation. "Except for the heel spreader 131 and its -ioperating mechanism the take np rnay be considered as substantially id'eh- V tical in canstruction sand in operation i'to that of this patent. Attention is called to claims 3, 4 and 811i the-patent referred to which are believed to cover broadly thesupplementary take-up of this invention. I

' toe pocket spreader "above I described may be con-.venientlyxsupported :by the. wrap mecha- :nism new "to. be :described. mechanism is illustrated by Figs; 1'18, inclusive. It has wide possibilities ilncluding'the making-iof'the so-called reverse spiral wrap such as that shown in Fig. 19

outlining the meverseplatedldiamonds. As shown -in-Fig. 71 the machine is provided wl-th two tllblilar shafts and-6 rotatable within housing .85 terminating :at theirJlowe'r ends disc-like heads 1-68 and H119,- :=respecti-v.ely. JSh'afts'GB andfi are provided with vspiiral slots 4-H) and =1 H respectmelm'onebeing the reverse of theiother as shown in :Pin 39 2 on vertically 'sl'idabrle' ring as passesthitoughspiral islets 1 I0 -.-and 11! l. 7 There- I fore, by moving pin 52 upsordown eby' m eans of ring -93i heaids M18 and "H19 can he made to rotate in .;both directions 'zbtft always in opposite :direc itions; J 1. .1-

A wrapspindl'e \of this type is suitable "for "producirrg the .double tspinafl wrap outlines of the diamonds shown ziniFi-g, s9. Its scape ti-s'yindact, much greater than this; 'It can .produ ce :double spiral "map patternsv ientire'l-y around the. stock ing; f'll he -mannersinrwhich isuchiaspindle super 4 atesis fully described in Patent #2,230,213 to which reference may be had.

The vertical movement of ring 93 just described is obtained by means of a pivoted yoke I I2 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 10 and 11) operated at the required times by suitable mechanism indicated by the: rod H3 (Ei'gs. l0 and .11) Housing and, consequently, the wrap spindle are driven in a 1 x 1 relation to the cylinders through gears H4, H5,

116 and Ill. When the wrap spindle which passes down through the upper cylinder as will be :seen'Lfrom Figsuglo. and 11 is idle, it is substantially concentric with that cylinder.

When it is-to operate to produce wrap patterns, it is swung into the eccentric position .shown'in Fig. .10 in which h'eads I08 and H19 are in the usual position overlapping'the needle circle occupied by eccentric wrap spindles in singlecylind'er machines. This horizontal swinging of the wrap spindle is efiected without disengaging it from gears H-E l I I. It simply swings :in stemcentric are around gear 4 115. When swung into concentric position, obviously; its timing will-be l altered but i t is then inoperati've so that this is immaterial. When 'it is swung again into the eccentric operating position its timing is restored.

The means for swinging 'th'e Wrap-spindle in this way includes yoke --H2 which besides being pivotally mounted for vertical movement, is also mounted on -hub H8 swinga'bly mounted on post i l-9 concentric with gear l l fi. 1 H} is "provided with arm IZB by means :or which it is swung through suitable operating mechanism indicated by the lever I2 I. in Figs.-4,*1-0 "bsHd"1-1.

Gear HT is rota-tahly and'swingably'supported by a plate I Z'Jintegr-al with or attached to hub H3 and resting in a fixed arcuate guide 12- 3 :(Figs. 1, 4, 1.0, 11,20, 21 and 22). Guide 123 is'provided at eachend with adfiusting screws 12! and 12-5; respeotivelyby' means -'of which the concentrio and eccentric positions of the wrap fspindle canbead justed. H

In fact, plate I22 supports theerrtire-fwrap mechanism shown in Fig.- 1 including the "-wrap spindle proper, the bobbin support 'IZG Wrap yarn take up mechanism I21 and; in addition,

the heel and toe .pocketspreaide'ralready de- Zi'3i which passes throu h a fixed sleevelfl,

Shaft 13! is slidable in sleeve [32 but is prevented from turning by screw .133 passing through a slot I34 in .th'esleeve, .Shaft :I 3 I' is urgedwdownwardly by spring 135,. When in' its downwardposition horn I28 is in position to cooper-ate with theivrap spindle to produce "wrap patterns. "Shaft 13i andcmsequently, rod 4.29 and wrap horn-1'28 can be movedgupwardbysuitable mechanism operating against the endiof :lfiilsindicated in Fig. 1-1 by the numeral; 41-36 :to move the wrap horn up out of the waiy-aztanyttime when wrappingvis not'beingzdone.

Another wrapspindle of several which may :be used for introducing wrap patterns in plain :or plated panels :such as that shown at I 0! in Fig. 1 9 in aotherwi'se' :tizue ribstockirigis illustrated by Figs. 3-17 and I8; Herepas beforanthei e are two wrap heads I31 and I38 one sni'alleifthanthe,

other mounted in the same positions on tubular shafts 83 and 84, respectively. In this instance, however, the several eyelets or yarn guides I39 are at the extremities of frangible tongues I40 any number of which can be broken out, the construction suggesting that of the frangible butts on several well-known types of jacks. By breaking out all of these tongues with the exception of a few at opposite sides of each head the wrap spindle can be kept in wrapping position for making wrap patterns in the non-rib side panels of a stocking such as that shown in Fig. 19 without interfering with the needles when they operate in both cylinders to knit the true rib parts I85 alongside. If desired, double spiral wrap can be produced by this spindle, the two heads being shogged in opposite directions in the same way and by the same mechanism described above. For other types of wrapping one of the heads I31 or I38 can be used alone,

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine having superposed, axially aligned, rotatable, needle cylinders, a wrap spindle projecting through the upper cylinder, a wrapping head on said spindle positioned at wrapping level with respect to needles knitting in the lower cylinder, means for moving said spindle and said head into wrapping position eccentric of said cylinders and for moving said spindle and said head into an idle position substantially concentric of said cylinders, a heel and toe pocket spreader concentric with and rotatable by said wrap spindle and vertically movable independently thereof and means for causing said spreader to engage the heel or toe pocket of a stocking being knitted when said wrap spindle is in its idle, substantially, concentric position.

2. In a knitting machine having superposed, axially aligned, rotatable, needle cylinders, a wrap spindle, a wrapping head on said spindle positioned at wrapping level with respect to needles knitting in the lower cylinder, means for moving said spindle and head from an idle position substantially concentric with said cylinders to a wrapping position eccentric of said cylinders, a heel and toe pocket spreader concentric with said spindle and said head, means for rotating said spindle and said spreader in unison with said cylinders and means for moving vertically said spreader independently of said rotating means.

3. In a knitting machine having superposed axially aligned needle cylinders, a, wrap spindle eccentrically positioned with respect to the cylinders and having an integral head including a plurality of substantially identical flat fingers all extending radially in the same horizontal plane from a common hub and being in close adjacency throughout the periphery of the head, each of said fingers having a radially tapered form being relatively narrow at the inner end and wide at the outer end so that the adjacent sides of adjacent fingers are substantially parallel whereby selection of the desired fingers may be made by the breaking 011 of the remaining fingers at their narrow inner ends, and a yarn eyelet in the outer end of each finger.

OSCAR FREGEOLLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,615,807 Bosch Jan. 25, 1927 1,780,328 Ames Nov, 7, 1930 1,841,249 Larkin Jan. 12, 1932 1,885,322 Bentley Nov. 1, 1932 1,943,265 Stewart Jan. 9, 1934 2,065,469 Kent Dec. 22, 1936 2,167,390 Lawson July 25, 1939 2,230,213 Hutton Jan. 28, 1941 2,259,375 Grothey Oct. 14, 1941 2,307,969 Southworth Feb. 25, 1941 2,358,640 Holmes Sept. 19, 1945 2,396,767 Wildt Mar, 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 252,883 Great Britain June 10, 1926 514,666 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1939 649,846 Germany Sept. 3, 1937 

